Self feeding machine for shaping irregular forms



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l;

' W. REID. SELF FEEDING MACHINE FOR SHAPING IRREGULAR POEMS. No.431.954. Patented July 8, 1890.

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W. REID. SELF FEEDING MACHINE FOR SHAPING'IRRBGULAR FORMS. No. 431,954.Patented July '8, 1890..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM REID, OF VEST HEBRON, NE\V YORK.

SELF-FEEDING MACHINE FOR SHAPING IRREGULAR FORMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,954, dated July 8,1890.

Application filed October 26, 1889. Serial No. 328,233. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM REID, a citizen of the United States,residing at \Vest Ilebron,

in the county of Washington and State of New York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Self-Feeding Machines for ShapingIrregular Forms; and I do hereby declare the following to he a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My present invention relates to an improvement in machines for dressing,planing, shaping, or turning irregular forms, surfaces, or articlessuchas shoe-blocks, chair-rockers, chair-backs, saw-frames, and innumerableother irregular-shaped pieces of wood used in various constructions-theobject of the invention being to provide a machine in which an articlemay be completely dressed or shaped during one passage through thesamethat is to say, a machine which will shape and smooth one side ofthe wood, then automatically reverse the position of the blank so thatits other side may be properly turned, thus producing the finishedarticle at one handling of the blank and avoiding the trouble and labor,incident to many machines of this class, of putting the articles twiceinto the machine; and the invention consists in the construction,arrangement, and combination of parts, substantially as will behereinafter fully described, and then claimed.

In the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is aside elevation of my improved machine for shaping or turning irregularforms or articles. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is anoutline side elevation of the machine, certain parts being omitted,looking from the side opposite to that of Fig l, and drawn on anenlarged scale. Fig. at isa transverse vertical sectional elevation onthe line 00 m of Fig. 3.

Similar lettersof reference designate corresponding parts throughout allthe different figures of the drawings.

A indicates the main frame of the machine,

wherein the several mechanical parts of the invention are arranged. Thedetails of the structure of this frame may vary within wide limits, andhencelwould state that I am confined to no particular constructionthereof,

but reserve the liberty of making it in any 'way that will best serveits purpose and use.

In one end of the machine-frameA is journaled a horizontal shaft D,carrying near one end thereof a pair of wheels suitable for sup--porting a conveying-bed for the articles to be shaped. In the other endof the main frame are two other -similar wheels. These four :wheels arepreferably polygonal sprocketwheels C O, and the conveying-bed consists,

preferably, of two parallel moving belts or chains B B, made up ofinterpivotal links of suitable size and adapt-ed to be engaged by thesprockets on the wheels C C.

On the opposite end of shaft D from. where the sprocket-wheels aresituated is a gearwheel f, which meshes with a pinion f on a studprojecting horizontally from the side of the main frame and carryinglikewise a pulley f, to which is applied a belt running from a pulley bon a horizontal shaft 1), carried in bearings upon the upper side of themain frame. This shaft 1) has a fast and loose driving-pulley 19 overwhich the actuating-belt runs, and by this means, through the connectingmechanism just specified, the shaft D is driven and the accompanyingchains 13 B are propelled.

A series of clamps for holding the articles to be shaped or dressed, andcorresponding in length and general shape and arrangement to saidarticles, are mounted on the endless gearchains B B. It is evident, ofcourse, that said clamps will vary in shape to suit the differentarticles with which the machine is employed. In the present example ofthe invention the clamps are adapted for holding oval shoeblocks, and infact the general arrangement and relation of the mechanical parts havebeen devised with this purpose in View of shaping shoe-blocks. However,myinvention is by no means limited to this one use, and the pres-.

modifications are permissible and readily apparent to the skilledmechanician without departing from the principle of the invention.

The clamps carried by the parallel conveying-chains B Band used forholding the articles while being acted on by the cutting mechanism, aswill be hereinafter described, c011- sist each of the following parts: Aflat plate H is firmly secured to two opposite links on theconveying-chains. This plate is in general of a rectangular shape andmay be of greater or less size. When the links that carry the plate aremoving along the distance between the wheels, the plate Will be in ahorizontal position. When the clamps are on the upper lengths of theendless chainsthat is, when they are passing underneath the cutters-theplates H H enter and run in gibbed guideways a a, (see Fig. 4,) whichhold them securely and firmly. Secured to the plate H at right anglesthereto and at the edge thereof is another vertical plate I, which formsone of the jaws of the clamp. Alongside of the plate I is a plate or jawJ, carried on the end of a horizontal endwise-adjustable shaft L,whichis journaled in bearings in parallel standards K K, mounted a shortdistance apart upon the plate H. Said plate H is slotted at j, beneaththe movable jaw J, to permit it to have room to reverse when the shaft Lis revolved for that purpose. It will be observed that by the endwisemovement of shaft L in its bearings the reversible jaw J can be adjustedtoward or away from the fixed jaw I for the purpose of clamping orunclamping a blank-as, for instance, the shoe-block O. The portion ofshaftLbetween the standards K and K is provided with a rack L, which isengaged by a segment-gear on the end of a lever 70, pivoted at 7c, andsusceptible of more or less vertical movement, the result of which,either up or down, is (owing to the engagement of segment-gear and rack)to shift the jaw-shaft endwise in one direction or the other. The end ofthe pivoted segment-lever k is provided with a roller Z. The weight ofthe pivoted lever is sufficient (when the clamping device is in theproper position) to open the clamp and unbind the article which haspreviously been held in a tight grip. During the progressive motion ofthe clamps under the actuation of the chains which convey them eachlever 7c will be lifted every time its roller Z comes in contact withand rides upon one of the straight bars m m, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) theresult of which lifting of the pivoted lever will be to force the jawstogether and compress the blank between them, and said lever will fallevery time its roller faces 02, the result of this falling movementbeing to unclamp the blank. In the present example of machine Ipreferably have two raised surfaces m m and two depressed surfaces 91 nin the length of the machine. The raised edges m m are so located withrespect to the cutting or shaping mechanism that this action of theclamps in firmly holding thearticles will take place and be continuedwhile the articles are being operated upon by said cutting devices, andthe depressed edges 0?. 'n are so located that the articles may beunclamped as soon as the cutters cease to act. The outer end of thejaw-shaft L is provided with an arm M, curved on its under side andfastened horizontally and at right angles to the shaft L. During theprogressive motion of the clamps and at a time when they are unclampedthis arm M encounters and rides upon a pin N, projecting horizontallyinward from the standard or upright N, affixed on the main frame. Fig.The result of this is to lift the arm M and throw it over through asemicircular arc in the direction of the arrow nearthe middle clamp inFig. 3, which motion rotates the jaw-shaft and reverses the jaw. Theface of the reversible jaw opposite the fixed jaw is preferablyfurnished with spurs or pointed projections, which embed themselves intothe blank or block, and thus enable said reversible jaw to hold theblank with a sufficientlystrong connection to keep it from falling evenwhen the clamp is open. Now, suppose the clamp containing ablank to bemoving along with the roller riding upon the raised edge m (see secondclamp from left in Fig. 3) and the cutters acting upon said blank, whenthe roller is transferred from the raised edge m to the depressed edgea, theblank will be automatically unclamped, but will be still held bythe retaining-spurs on the reversible jaw. At the same time the arm Mwill strike the pin N and the jaw J will reverse, carrying with it theblank, which will now present its opposite side to the remaining cuttersas soon as the roller Z rides upon the next edge m, and again firmlyclamps the movable jaw against its fixed companion. In this manner itwill be seen that the shoe-block or other article may be dressed uponboth sides with but one handling, as the machine will automaticallyreverse it after one side thereof has been dressed and offer its otherside to be dressed by other cutters. The arm M is held in each of itspositions by resting on suitable pins or projections, as shown. Byreferring to Fig.

2 it will be seen that two clamps have not yet reversed, one isreversing, and two have reversed. As the clamps journey around on theendless bed the curved arms M will drop back under the action of gravityinto the proper position for their lower curved edges to be in readinessto meet with and ride upon the opposing devices, which accomplish ashifting of said arms. 1 drops into and rides upon the depressed sur- Inthis machine I preferably employ four cutters, one pair of which isarranged to act upon one side of the shoe-block or other blank, whilethe other pair is arranged to act upon the reverse side of the shoeblock or blank, the members of each pair revolving in oppositedirections. It will of course be understood that a different number ofcutters (See the middle clamp in ICC IIS

may be employed when the machine is-to be used for other purposes thanthat of shaping oval shoe-blocks; but in the present instance I conceivethat the best results are to be attained by the employment of fourcutters. These cutting devices are arranged as follows: On the upperside of the main frame A of the machine are mounted four verticalframes, about equal in height,but differing in width to permit them allto be belted from a common shaft. For instance, if the first frame istwelve inches wide the second frame should be sixteen, the third twentyinches, and the fourth twenty-four inches. These frames are lettered F FF F. The pair of frames F and F are located tolerably close together, asare alsotheframesF and F Each of thesevertical frames is provided withgibbed guideways to receive a vertically-movable plate, which carriesthe cutter-shaft. the plate G, which moves up and down therein, carryingthe horizontal shaft h, having at one end a pulley and at the other acutter i, said shaft It being journaled in suitable bearings on thevertically-movable frame G, the lower end of said plate G havingadownward extension, which projects through the main frame and isprovided with a small roller g. The frame F receives thevertically-movable plate G, which carries the horizontal cuttershaft h,having at one end a pulley and at the other a cutter i, said shaft hbeing supported in suitable j ournal-bearings affixed to the plate G,and the downwardly-extending end of said plate G being provided with asmall roller g. The vertical frame F receives the vertically-movableplate G carrying a horizontal cutter-shaft 71?, having at one end apulley and at the other a cutter 2' said shaft 712 being carried insuitable bearings on the slide-plate G while the lower end of said plateG which projects downwardly, is furnished with aroller g The frame Freceives the vertically-movable plate G which carries the horizontalcutter-shaft it having at one end a pulley and at the other a cutter isaid shaft 7L3 being held in proper bearings on the sliding plate Gwhile the lower end of plate G is provided with the small roller 9 Thehorizontal shaft 1), above described, is provided with a series of fourpulleys c c c 0 A belt runs from c to the pulley on the cutter-shaft723. A twisted belt runs from the pulley c to the belt on thecutter-shaft 7L2. A straight belt runs from the pulley c to the pulleyon the cutter-shaft h, and a twisted belt runs from the pulley c to thepulley on the cutter-shaft h. In this manner it will be seen how thecutting devices are actuated, and it will be observed that the membersof each pair of them will move in opposite directions. Journaled in themain frame beneath the vertically-sliding plates G, G, G and G and atright angles to the cuttershafts carried by said plates is a horizontalshaft E, provided with a series of cams e e e a The cam e revolves incontact with the The frame F receives roller g on the slide G. The cam erevolves in contact with the roller g on the slide G. The cam e revolvesin contact with the roller g on the slide G The cam e revolves incontact with the roller g on the slide G hence during the rotation ofthe shaft E the cams thereon serve to adjust the slides vertically so asto bring the cutters into proper position to act upon their work, so asto make the proper forms and outlines thereupon as may be necessary toconvert the blank into the desired article or object. The cam-shaft Ehas a mitergear cl on the end thereof ,which engages with a miter-gear don the shaft D. As the shaft D revolves the camshaft is likewiseactuated by reason of this miter-gear connection. The cams 011 thecamshaft may vary in form and outline, as may be desired.

The operation of my improved machine for dressing or shaping irregularforms, surfaces, or articles will be clearly evident from the foregoingdescription of the construction and arrangement of the severalmechanical parts without need of any extensive description of theminutiae of the operation of each part. The operator drops a blankas,for instance,

a blank for a shoe-block-into the open jaws of the clamp when the saidclamp is in the position shown to the right of Fig. 3, the pivotedsegment-lever having its roller resting upon its depressed edge a. Asthe clamp moves on toward the cutters and the roller in lthe pivoted armmounts the raised edgem, the blank is immediately clamped automaticallyand firmly and presented to a cutter rotating reversely to the ordinarydirection given to planers. This cutter will begin to act upon thematerial of the blank and to shape it into the desired form, the cam onthe cam-shaft all the While operating upon the downwardly-extendingportion of the vertical slide, so as to keep the cutter in properposition to correctly outline the blank which itis dressing. The firstcutter will round or shape the first end of the upper side of the blank;

but when the cutter is operating upon the middle portion of said blankit will be sud-- denly raised up in its work by the action of thecam-shaft upon the sliding plate, and simultaneously with this suddenelevation of the first cutter the second cutter will, by the propermovement of the proper cam, be lowered down to where it can begin to cutinto the wood of the blank, and as this second cutter runs in adirection the reverse of the direction of revolution of the firstcutter, it will dress the remaining half of the upper side of the blockand thoroughly shape and I outline it into the correct form and figurepreferred. As the clamp moves on and the end of the pivotedsegment-lever drops off the raised edge m and falls onto the depressedpart it, the reversal of the position of the block will take place inthe manner which has been above described in treating of theconstruction of the clamp. VVhenthe piv-.

oted lever again mounts a raised part m and the block or blank is againfirmly clamped, it will be presented to the action of the other twocutters, whose mode of operation is similar to that of the first pair.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for dressing irregular forms or articles, thecombination of the main frame, the endless conveying-bed arrangedtherein, the automatically-operating clamps carried by said bed, thehorizontal guide-bar upon the top of the frame having its edge formedwith alternate elevations and depressions, the vertically-adjustableslides carrying the cutters, the cam-shaft whose cams adjust thevertical position of the said slides, and an obstacle in the path of theclamps by encountering which each one is reversed, substantially as setforth.

2. In a machine fordressing irregular forms or articles, the combinationof the endless conveying-bed carrying the automatically-operatingclamps, the main frame having on its upper side a horizontal bar formedwith alternate elevations and depressions, a pair of oppositely-rotatingcutters and vertically-moving slides carrying said cutters, togetherwith the cam-shaft for adjusting said slides, and an object in the pathof the clamps by encountering which they are reversed, as set forth.

3. In a machine for dressing irregular forms or articles, thecombination of the endless conveying bed, the automatically operatingclamps carried thereby, consisting, essentially,

of a rigid jaw and a movable arm provided with a jaw, thevertically-adjustable slides, the frames in which they are arranged, thecutters carried by the slides, the cam-shaft arranged beneath saidslides so as to vertically adjust them, the horizontal bar on the top ofthe main frame formed with alternate depressions and elevations, and theobstacle arranged in the path of the clamps to be encountered thereby,as set forth.

4. In a machine for dressing irregular forms or articles, thecombination, with the main frame having a horizontal bar upon the same,the edge of which is formed with alternate elevations and depressions,and the endless conveying-bed, of a reversible clamp for holding thearticle to be dressed, consisting of a plate secured to the bed, a rigidjaw on said plate, and a movable jaw having a shaft provided with acurved arm adapted during the progressive motion of the clamp toencounter an obstacle 'and thereby reverse the clamp,

substantially as described.

5. In amachine for dressing irregular forms or articles, thecombination, with the dressing mechanism and the endless conveying-bed,of a clamp for the article to be dressed, consisting of a flat platesecured to the bed, a rigid jaw on said plate, a movable jaw having ashaft provided with a rack and a horizontally- ;curved arm, a pivotedsegment-lever engaging said rack, a bar or surface on the main .on saidplate, a movable jaw having a shaft suitably journaled in standards onthe plate, said jaw being provided with retaining-spurs which embedthemselves in the article, and

said shaft having a rack and also a horizontally-curved arm, the pivotedsegment-lever engaging said rack, a bar or surface on the main framehaving alternate elevations and depressions whereon the segment-leverrides, and the obstacle in the path of the curved arm, substantially asset forth.

7. In a machine for dressing irregular forms or articles, thecombination, with the vertically adj ustable slides, the cutting devicescarried thereby, the conveying-bed consisting of parallel chains havinginterpivoted links, and the duplicate sprocket-wheels arranged in eachend of the frame, of a series of clamps carried by said chain, eachconsisting of a plate secured to opposite links of the said parallelchains, a rigid jaw on said plate, and a movable jaw having asuitably-journaled rack shaft provided with a horizontallycurved arm,the pivoted segment-lever engaging said rack-shaft, the bar on the upperside of the frame formed with alternate elevated and depressed sections,and the device in the path for shifting the curved arm, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a machine for dressing irregular forms or articles, thecombination of cutting devices, an endless conveying-bed and a clampthereon, consisting, essentially, of the plate secured to the bed, arigid jaw on the plate, and a movable jaw having a shaft suitablyjournaled in standards on the plate and provided with a rack, the pivotedsegment-lever engaging said rack, and the bar or surface on the upperportion of the machine-frame having alternate raised and depressedsections whereon the segment-baris adapted to move, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a machine for-dressing irregular forms or articles, thecombination of the main frame of the machine, the vertical framesarranged thereupon, the vertically-adjustable slides moving in saidframes, the cutting devices carried by said slides, the cam-shaft foradjusting the slides, the endless conveying-bed, and the self-operatingclamps carried by said bed, together with the horizontal guide-bar onthe top of the main frame formed with alternate depressions andelevations, and the obstacle in the path of the clamps which are ICCIIC'

encountered thereby so as to reverse them, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of the main frame, the vertical frame securedthereupon having ways, the vertically-adjustable slides moving in saidways, the cutting devices carried by said slides, the shaft providedwith clamps which operate upon the lower ends of said slides for thepurpose of adjusting the same, the mechanism for imparting to saidcutting devices a reverse rotation, the endless bed consisting of theparallel chains passing over sprocket-wheels, and theautomatically-operating reversible clamps, constructed substantially asdescribed, whereby the opposite sides of the blank are presented to turnto the action of the cutting devices, substantially as described.

11. In amachine fordressin g irregular forms or articles, thecombination of the main frame, the vertical frame thereupon, theverticallyadjustable slides in said vertical frame, thereversely-rotating cutters carried by said slides, as specified, thecam-shaft whose cams adjust the vertical position of the slides and thusregulate the cutters, the main drivingshaft having pulleys belted to thepulleys 011 the cutter-shafts, and the endless bed with its clamps,substantially as described.

12. The combination of the main frame, the conveying-bed consisting ofparallel chains passing over sprocket-wheels located at either end ofthe machine, the Vertical frames mounted on the main frame and havinggibbed guideways, the verticallyadjustable slides moving in saidguideways, the cutter-shafts journaled on said slides and each carryinga cutter-head and a pulley, the cam-shafts operating upon the lower endsof the slides for adjusting the same vertically, the driving devices foractuating the cutters, and the adjustable clamp consisting of a rigidand a movable jaw, substantially as described.

13. The combination of the main frame A, the cuttingdevices, theconveying-bed, and the automatically-reversible clamp, consisting of aplate H, secured to said conveying-bed and slotted at j, a fixed jaw I,mounted on said plate, a movable jaw J, having shaft L journaled instandards K K, mounted on said plate 11, said shaft L having rack L,together with the pivoted segment-lever 70, having roller Z, adapted toride on the straight edges m and n on the upper side of themachineframe, substantially as and for the purpose described.

14:. The combination of the main frame A,

the vertical frames F F F F mounted on WVILLIAM REID.

Witnesses: J. A. AsHLY, A. J. McAULEY.

